University of British Columbia Thunderbirds forwards Kenzie Robinson (88) and Shay-Lee McConnell (24) celebrate a goal over the University of Saskatchewan Huskies on Saturday night at Merlis Belsher Place. (Katie Brickman-Young/HuskieFAN)

By Katie Brickman-Young

Women’s team look to refocus in games before break

TBirds drop Huskies at MBP

Nov 27, 2021 | 10:25 PM

The winning streak ends at four games for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies women’s hockey team.

After a solid team victory on Friday night, the Huskies dropped a 2-0 decision to the University of British Columbia (UBC) Thunderbirds (TBirds) on Saturday evening at Merlis Belsher Place in Saskatoon.

“I don’t think we started on time tonight,” said Steve Kook, head coach of the Huskies. “We had a slow start and when you start getting downhill a little bit, it is hard to climb back up again.”

The Huskies struggled out of the gate against the Thunderbirds, who had more energy and won the battles for the puck and along the boards.

Third year forward Ashley McFadden got UBC on the board with a power play marker midway through the first period. UBC defence and Saskatoon native, Hannah Koroll added the insurance marker late in the opening frame and that was enough for the visiting team to get their seventh victory on the season.

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The Huskies were outmatched and outworked for much of the game. The TBirds held a 33-24 shot advantage over the Huskies, who only had six and seven shots on net in the second and third periods, respectively.

“They worked a little bit harder than us in the first and second periods. We came out hard in the third period, but they outworked us early and that’s what did it,” said Camryn Drever, starting goaltender for the Huskies. “I think we need to feel this one for at least a day or two and let it sink in. It was a tough loss. We really wanted it tonight and wanted the sweep. We should feel this one and then move on.”

It was a tough loss to take for the Huskies, after going on a four-game winning streak over the past two weekends.

The loss now puts both teams back on even ground in the Canada West standings with 14 points apiece and once again tied for third place.

Earning wins is difficult enough in a strong conference like Canada West but earning sweeps – and back-to-back sweeps – are even harder and the Huskies learned that first-hand this weekend.

“Every weekend, you have to play hard, and we needed to play like we did in the first game,” said Kook. “We are a younger crew and I think that was good for our younger crew to see when you show up for one game, you make sure you show up for the other one.”

The Huskies went one-for-three on the power play, while the TBirds went one-for-four on the advantage. The penalty kill was one highlight for the Huskies, as the TBirds struggled to create many opportunities on the advantage.

“When we take as many penalties as we did tonight, I thought it (the penalty kill) was outstanding tonight,” said Kook. “It was something that we needed to be strong on and we tightened it up this weekend.”

Drever took the loss, making 31 saves on the night, including multiple giveaways and UBC breakaways. UBC rookie goaltender Elise Hugens rebounded from an off night on Friday to earn her fourth shutout of the season.

“I think for me, it is about battling for every single puck and not giving up rebounds,” said Drever. “I want to show my teammates to put that extra mile in because I will be putting that extra mile in.”

The Huskies will look to quickly move forward and past this loss as they enter their final weekend of the 2021 calendar year before the holiday break. They head to Calgary next weekend to face the conference-leading Mount Royal Cougars.

“It is back to work on Monday. In this league, you need to have a short memory because you are moving on to the next opponent,” said Kook. “They have had two weeks to prepare for us, so we only have three days and then a travel day, so you have to switch, get healthy and refresh and go again.”